Reclosing circuit-interrupting device



6. LINCKS RECLOSING CIRCUI,T.-INTERRUPTI'NG DEVICE July 31, 1945'.

I Fii d April 1e,- ;9 42

Invent, or:

George FTLincks, 24? M y His Attorrjeg.

Patented July 31, 1945 RECLOSING CIRCUIT-INTERRUPTING DEVICE George; F. Lincks, Plttsfield, Mas s., asslg'nor to pany, a corporation of New General Electric Com York Application April 16, 1942, Serial No. 439,165

Claims.

My invention relates to a reclosing circuit-interrupting device and more particularly to a circuit interrupting device comprising a plurality of fuses only one of which is connected in the associated circuit at a time.

Fuse cutouts of the reclosing type in which a second fuse link is connected into the circuit a predetermined time after the first fuse link has blown have been used quite extensively. In reclosing circuit-interrupting devices of the type in which the fuse links are held between arms biased for relative separation, one of the arms has been utilized to connect a second fuse link in the circuit after a predetermined time delay. In order that the fuse link ends may be separated rapidly to extinguish the arc drawn upon blowing of the first fuse link, it is desirable that the relative separation between the arms supporting the fuse link occurs at high speed. On the other hand, if one of these arms is used to connect the second fuse link in the circuit, it is desirable that I this arm is retarded to give the desired time delay. To provide both of these inconsistent operations of one of the relatively separable supporting arms, very complicated and elaborate time-delay schemes have been provided.

It is an object of my invention to provide a reclosing circuit-interrupting device employing a plurality of fuses including a simple compact time-delay device which permits high-speed relative separation of the fuse link supporting arms to insure interruption of the circuit.

It is another object of my invention to provide a new and improved arrangement including timeclelay means for reclosing the circuit associated with a reclosing,circuit-interrupting device.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed toand forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanyin drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view' partly in section of a reclosing circuit-interrupting device embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a side view of the lower portion of the device illustrated in Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawing, I have illustrated an insulator or insulating supporting member l0 which may be suitably supported from a pole or crossarm, not shown, as by a, supporting strap or hanger, generally indicated at ll, which is adapted substantially to surround a central portion 12 of reduced diameter of insulator to. A pair of spaced line terminals 83 and N are fixedly mounted on insulator It] in any suitable manner and are provided with means indicated at l5 and I6, respectively, for making connections with a transmission line or the like. Electrically connected to upper line terminal l3 and supported from insulator III is a conducting arm I! projecting outwardly from terminal l3. Conducting arm I! has been indicated as a relatively rigid member although it will be understood that a relatively resilient member might also be employed. Supported at the extreme outer end of conducting arm I1 is a contact clip or jaw member I8 having rearwardly extending spring-biased jaw portions l9 which provide gripping means or fuse link receiving means for a fuse link to be described hereinafter.

Lower terminal I4 may be supported from insulator H1 in any suitable manner as by cementing or the like or, as illustrated in the drawing, by a strap 20 surrounding insulator l0 adjacent the lower end thereof. Line terminal i4 is provided with a forked extension 2| which pivotally supports a U-shaped member 22 connected to a rigid conducting arm 23. Arm 23 is biased so as to move downwardly away from conducting arm 11 by spring means 24. It should be understood, however, that, instead of providing a rigid arm 23 biased by spring means 24, a relatively resilient arm might be provided which is inherently biased in the same manner as spring means 24 biases arm 23. Supported at the extreme outer end of lower conducting arm 23 is a contact clip or jaw member 24' substantially identical with jaw member l8 including fuse link receiving means for gripping a fuse link to be described hereinafter.

A first fuse link, generally indicated at 25 comprises a pair of flexible cables 26 spaced apart at their irmer ends which are interconnected by a fusible element, not shown, enclosed Within a tube 21 preferably formed of horn fiber or other material that is characterized by the ability to give off a gas in the presence of the heat of an electric arc, which gas tends to extinguish said electric arc. At the outer ends of the cables 26 of fuse 11:11:25 are provided fuse link terminals comprising loops 28 and stop members 29. The loops 28 are provided so that the fuse link 25 may readily be'handled by means of a switch stick and the stops 29 are provided so that the cable portions 26 will not slip through the grippin portions ofthe upper and lower jaw members l8 and 24', respectively. When the fuse link is inserted in the gripping portions of jaw members 18 and 24, it is held under tension as indicated in Fig. l by virtue of spring means 24. Fuse link 25 is hereinafter referred to as the first fuse link to distinguish it from a second fuse link used to reclose the circuit upon blowing of the first fuse link. It should be understood that the expression first fuse link used in this specification and the claims referred to hereinafter refers to any fuse link inserted between conducting arms 11 and 23 whether it be the fuse link originally provided or a subsequently replaced fuse link. In other words, the expression is more indicative of the'position of the fuse link rather than referring to any specific fuse link.

In order that a second fuse link may be connected into the circuit upon blowing of first fuse link 25, a second conducting arm is connected to line terminal I3 which projects outwardly from insulator I0 at substantially right angles to conducting arm l'! to provide sufficient clearance between the fuse links which are supported by arms l1 and 30. The outer end of conducting arm 30 is provided with a contact clip or jaw member 3| substantially identical with jaw members l8 and 24, described heretofore. It should be understood that, although two upper conducting arms l1 and 30 have been illustrated for supporting two separate fuse links, a single conducting arm, such as IT, might be provided for supporting both fuse links as is disclosed in the copending application of Sidney R. Smith, Jr., Serial No. 439,162, now Patent 2,348,029, filed concurrently with this application and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

Insulator I0 is also provided with a third terminal 32 which is adjacent to terminal H but spaced sufficiently therefrom for satisfactory insulating purposes under all voltage conditions normally encountered. Pivotally connected to third terminal 32 is a conducting arm 33 comprising a looped member having at the extreme outer end thereof a contact clip or jaw member 34 substantially identical with jaw members 18, 24, and 3|, referred to above. As best shown in Fig. 2, the end of conducting arm 33 adjacent third terminal 32 which is the closed end of the loop is provided with portions 33 about which the arm 33 pivots. A suitable spring 34 is connected to an extension 33" (see Fig. 2) of conducting arm 33 which biases arm 33 to rotate about portions 33' in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. In the position of the arm 33 shown in Fig. 1, spring means 34 is under tension, thereby providing tension on a second fuse link, generally indicated at 35, inserted between the jaw members 31 and 36 of conducting arms 30 and 33, respectively. Second fuse link 36 is identical with first fuse link 25 and the corresponding parts thereof are designated by the same reference numerals as are the corresponding parts of fuse link 25.

Since the third terminal 32 associated with insulator I0 i normally insulated from line terminal l4, fuse link 36 is not connected between line terminals l3 and I4 when. fuse link 25 is in the unblown condition. In order to connect the second fuse link 38 into the circuit between line terminals I3 and I4 upon blowing of fuse link 25, I provide a current transfer switch 31 fixedly mounted to a shaft 38 and electrically connected to terminal l4. Associated with terminal 32 and electrically connected therewith is a cooperating female stationary contact 39 with which switch- Cir ing member 31 is adapted to engage to complete the circuit between third terminal 32 and terminal I l as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Current transfer switch 31 is provided with an extension 40 which engages with the lower conducting arm 23 so that, when the lower conducting arm 23 is in the position indicated in solid lines on the drawing, transfer switch 31 is held in its upper position to isolate lin terminal l4 and third terminal 32. Upon rupture of the first fuse link 25, conducting arm 23 is flipped downwardly at high speed under the impetus of spring means 24, to cause rapid separation of the fuse link parts and extinction of the are drawn as Well as release of current transfer switch 31.

In view of the fact that lower conducting arm 23 of the first fuse link 25 serves only to support the fuse link and produce high-speed separation of the fuse link parts upon rupture thereof and unlike the prior-art devices is not used to complete the circuit through the second fuse link,

"- arm 23 may move at high speed throughout its entire path of travel and no complicated time' delay means is required to permit initial highspeed travel as well as to provide the subsequent retardation to give the desired time delay.

By using a separate current transfer switch, such as 31 described above, a very simple timedelay mechanism may be provided to give a uniform retardation of the movement of current transfer switch 31 with a simple increase in speed to insure completion of the circuit near the end of the path of movement thereof. Accordingly, I have provided a time delay means, generally indicated at 4!, comprising casing 42 through which shaft 33 supporting current transfer switch 31 extends to be rotutably mounted therein. A suitable spring 43 is associated with shaft 33 to cause clockwise rotation of current transfer switch 3'] as viewed from Fig. 3 Whenever extension 40 thereof is free to move upon rupture of fuse link 25. The ti -delay means, generally indicated at co. ises a segmental gear 44 firmly attached i shaft 33 which segmental gear is adapted to 111 ml with a pinion 45 mounted on a rotatably mounted in casing 42. Also mcun' d on shaft 4% is an escapement gear 41 having teeth adapted to engage with an escapement pendulum Ml piv otally mounted at 49. Upon rupture of fuse link 25, conducting arm 23 moves downwardly with high speed to produce a flipping motion causing high-speed separation of the fuse link parts. Current transfer switch 37 is thereby released and moves downwardly in a retarded manner by virtue of time-delay mechanism. 4!. As soon as segmental gear M is released from pinion 45, current transfer switch 31 is released and permitted to move with high speed to insure firm engagement with the cooperating female contact 39, thereby completing the circuit between line terminal 14 and third terminal 32 and, conse' quently, connecting second fuse link 35 into the circuit.

An important advantage obtained by virtue of the arrangement of the current transfer switch described above is that, whenever arm 2-3 is moved upwardly, current transfer switch 31 is also moved upwardly by virtue of extension 40. Accordingly, the time-delay mechanism 4! is automatically reset merely inserting a new fuse link 25 and it is not necessary to reset the timedelay mechanism by hand as is the case in prior art arrangements. Furthermore, the time-dell! mechanism should preferably be constructed so that the current transfer switch 31 could be moved freely from the dotted position indicated in Fig. 3 to the solid position indicated in Fig. 3 during the refusing operation without the need of moving the escapement pendulum and timing gears. The latter would only be actuated when the current transfer arm 31 was moved from the solid position indicated in Fig. 3 to the dotted position.

The operation of the reclosing circuit-inter rupting device described above will be obvious in view of the detailed description included above and no further discussion thereof will be included here.

As a result of the improvements hereinbefore described, a reclosing circuit-interrupting device is provided in which a simple time-delay mechanism may be utilized and yet wherein highspeed separation of the fuse link parts upon rupture thereof is assured, the desired time delay between the rupture of the first fuse link and the insertion of the second fuse link into the circuit is obtained, and positive and efficient completion of the circuit through the second fuse link is provided.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in complete detail so as to insure a complete understanding of the invention, it is contemplated that details of the disclosed structure are capable of modification and that other applications and features of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Hence, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

i. In a reclosing circuit interrupting device, the combination of an insulating supporting member,

a pair of spaced line terminals fixedly mounted on said supporting member, a pair of conducting arms biased for relative separation projecting outwardly from said supporting member each terminating in a fuse link receiving means, each of minal adjacent to but spaced from one of said line terminals, a second fuse link electrically interconnecting said third terminal and the other of said line terminals, an independent current transfer switch electrically connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal biased to connect said third terminal to said adjacent line terminal, and means associated with said current transfer switch for causing said conducting arm connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal to hold said current transfer switch in the inoperative position when said first fuse link is connected in the circuit, said last mentioned means permitting free movement of said conducting arm for causing high-speed separation of said fuse link parts and release of said current transfer switch for independent closin upon rupture of said first fuse link.

2. In a reclosing circuit interrupting device, the combination of an insulating supporting member, a pair of spaced line terminals fixedly mounted on said supporting member, a pair of conducting arms biased for relative separation projecting outwardly from said supporting member each terminating in a fuse link receiving means, each of said arms being electrically connected to one of said line terminals, a first fuse link carried between said fuse link receiving means, a third terminal adjacent to but spaced from one of said line terminals, a second fuse link electrically interconnecting said third terminal and the other of said line terminals, a current transfer switch electrically connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal adapted to connect said third terminal to said adjacent line terminal, means associated with said current transfer switch for causing said conducting arm connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal to hold said current transfer switch in the inoperative position when said first fuse link is connected in the circuit, said conducting arm causing high-speed separation of said fuse link parts and release of said current transfer switch upon rupture of said first fuse link, and time-delay means associated with said current transfer switch for producing the desired time delay between the rupture of said first fuse link and the reclosing of the circuit through said second fuse link.

3. In a reclosing circuit interrupting device, the combination of an insulating supporting member, a pair of spaced line terminals fixedly mounted on said supporting member, a pair of conducting arms biased for relative separation projecting outwardly from said supporting member each terminating in a fuse link receiving means, each of said arms being electrically connected to one of said line terminals, a first fuse link carried between said fuse link receiving means, a third terminal adjacent to but spaced from one of said line terminals, a second fuse link electrically interconnecting said third terminal and the other of said line terminals, a current transfer switch electrically connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal for connecting said third terminal to said adjacent line terminal, means including an extension on said current transfer switch for engaging said conducting arm connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal to hold said current transfer switch in the inoperative position when said first fuse link is connected in the circuit, said conducting arm causing high-speed separation of said fuse link parts and release of said current transfer switch upon rupture of said first fuse link, and time-delay means associated with said current transfer switch for producing the desired time delay between the rupture of said first fuse link and the reclosing of the circuit through said second fuse link.

4:. In a reclosing circuit-interrupting device, the combination of an insulating supporting member, a pair of spaced line terminals fixedly mounted on said supporting member, a pair of conducting arms biased for relative separation projecting outwardly from said supporting member each terminating in a fuse link receiving means, each of said arms being electrically connected to one of said terminals, a first fuse link carried between said fuse link receiving means, a third terminal adjacent to but spaced from one of said line terminals, a second fuse link electrically interconnecting said third terminal and the other of said line terminals, a spring-biased current transfer switch electrically connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal adapted to connect said third terminal to said adjacent, line terminal, means associated with said current transfer switch for causing said conducting arm connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal to hold said current transfer switch in the inoperative position when said first fuse link is connected in the circuit, said conducting arm causing high-speed separation of said fuse link parts and release of said current transfer switch upon rupture of said first fuse link, and time-delay means associated with said current transfer switch for producing the desired time delay between the blowing of said first fuse link and the reclosing of the circuit through said second fuse link.

5. In a reclosing circuit interrupting device, the combination of an insulating supporting member, a pair of spaced line terminals fixedly mounted on said supporting member, a pair of conducting arms biased for relative separation projecting outwardly from said supporting member each terminating in a fuse link receiving means, each of said arms being electrically connected to one of said line terminals, a first fuse link carried between said fuse link receiving means, a third terminal adjacent to but spaced from one of said line terminals, a second fuse link electrically interconnecting said third terminal and the other of said line terminals, 9. current transfer switch electrically connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal adapted to connect said third terminal to said adjacent line terminal, means associated with said current transfer switch for causing said conducting arm connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal to hold said current transfer switch in the inoperative position when said first fuse link is connected in the circuit, said conducting arm causing high-speed separation of said fuse link parts and release of said current transfer switch upon rupture of said first fuse link, and time-delay means including a segmental gear associated with said current transfer switch for producing the desired time delay between the rupture of said first fuse link and the reclosing of the circuit through said second fuse link.

6. In a reclosing circuit interrupting device, the combination of an insulating supporting member, a pair of spaced line terminals fixedly mounted on said supporting member, a first fuse link electrically connected between said spaced line terminals, a third terminal mounted on said insulating supporting member, a second fuse link electrically interconnecting said third terminal and one of said line terminals, an independent current transfer switch for electrically connecting said other line terminal and said third terminal upon blowing of said first fuse link to connect said second fuse link between said line terminals, and time-delay means including a segmental gear for causing said current transfer switch to interconnect said other line terminal and said third terminal only after a predetermined time delay following the blowin of said first fuse link, said time-delay means and said current transfer switch being so constructed and arranged that said time-delay means is automatically reset merely by replacing said blown first fuse link.

7. In a reclosing circuit-interrupting device. the combination of an insulating supporting member, a pair of spaced line terminals fixedly mounted on said supporting member, a pair of conducting arms biased for relative separation projecting outwardly from said supporting member each terminating in a fuse link receiving means, each of said arms being electrically connected to one of said line terminals, a first fuse link carried between said fuse link receiving means, a third terminal adjacent to but spaced from one of said line terminals, a second fuse link electrically interconnecting said third terminal and the other of said line terminals, an independent current transfer switch electrically connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal biased to move in a direction to connect said third terminal to said adjacent line terminal, means associated with said current transfer switch for causing said conducting arm connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal to hold said current transfer switch in the inoperative position when said first fuse link is connected in the circuit but permitting release of said current transfer switch for movement independent of said contactin arm connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal upon rupture of said first fuse link, and time-delay means assoc'lated with said current transfer switch for delaying the movement of said current transfer switch to produce the desired time delay between the ruptur of said first fuse link and the reclosing of the circuit through said second fuse link, said time-delay means and said current transfer switch being so constructed and arranged that said time-delay means is automatically reset merely by replacing said ruptured fuse link.

8. In a reclosing circuit-interrupting device. the combination of an insulating supporting member, a pair of spaced line terminals fixedly mounted on said supporting member, a pair of conducting arms biased for relative separation projecting outwardly from said supporting member each terminating in a fuse link receiving means, each of said arms being electrically connected to one of said terminals, a first fuse link carried between said fuse link receiving means. a third terminal adjacent to but spaced from one of said line terminals, a second fuse link electrically interconnecting said third terminal and the other of said line terminals, a spring-biased current transfer switch electrically connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal adapted to connect said third terminal to said adjacent line terminal, means associated with said current transfer switch for causing said conducting arm connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal to hold said current transfer switch in the inoperative position when said first fuse link is connected in the circuit, said conducting arm causing high-speed separation of said fuse link parts and release of said current transfer switch upon rupture of said first fuse link, and time-delay means of the escapement mechanism type associated with said current transfer switch for producing the desired time delay between the blowing of said first fuse link and the reclosing of the circuit through said second fuse link.

9. In a reclosin-g circuit-interrupting device, the combination of an insulating supporting member, a pair of spaced line terminals fixedly mounted on said supporting member, a first fuse link electrically connected between said spaced line terminals, 2. third terminal mounted on said insulating supporting member, a second fuse link electrically interconnecting said third terminal and one of said line terminals, an independent current transfer switch spring-biased to electrically connect said other line terminal and said third terminal upon blowing of said first fuse link to connect said second fuse link between said line terminals, and time-delay means for initially delaying the spring biased independent movement of said current transfer switch to provide a predetermined time delay between the blowing of said fuse link and the reclosing of the circuit through said second fuse link, said time-delay means being constructed to permit final highspeed movement of said current transfer switch. said time-delay means and said current transfer switch being so constructed and arranged that said time-delay means is automatically reset merely by replacing said blown first fuse link.

10. In a reclosing circuit-interrupting device. the combination of an insulating supporting member, a pair of spaced line terminals fixedly mounted on said supporting member, a pair of conducting arms biased for relative separation projecting outwardly from said supporting member each terminating in a receiving means for a circuit Opening means, each of said arms being electrically connected to one of said line terminals, a first current responsive means, circuit opening means, and are extinguishing means associated with said conducting arms so as to restrain said arms in closed circuit position, a third terminal adjacent to but spaced from one of said line terminals, a second current responsive means, circuit opening means, and are extinguishing means associated with said third terminal and the other of said line terminals, an independent current transfer switch electrically connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal adapted to connect said third terminal to said adjacent line terminal, and means associated with said current transfer switch for causing said conducting arm connected to said line terminal adjacent said third terminal to hold said current transfer switch in the inoperative position when said first circuit opening means is in a current conducting condition, said last mentioned means permitting free movement of said conducting arm for causing an arc to be drawn in said are extinguishing means and release of said current transfer switch for independent closing in response to operation of said first current responsive means.

GEORGE F. LINCKS. 

